Sister Magdalen Lawler was born in London of Irish immigrant parents in early 1940 during the intensive BLITZ of London before the air defences were...
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Early in the 15th century, the Russian Rublev wrote this icon of the Trinity for the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the monastic city, Sergei Posad, 50 miles from Moscow. It is almost 12 ft square.

The original now hangs in the Tretiakov Museum in Moscow. In creating this image Rublev threw open to all believers what we affirm in our Creed, that God is one with a distinctive relationship of persons, equal in being but distinct in relationship.

Finding language to express this can sometimes be better approached through images and poetry. So my reflection today is an offering of poems that help me to reflect on this profound mystery.

In the early 14th century Julian of Norwich, England, described God as ‘The Astonishing Familiarity of Home:'

The three properties of God are Life, Love and Light.In Life is the astonishing familiarity of Home.In Love is courtesy as befits relationships.

In the 12th century, Hidegard of Bingen, in the German Rhineland, spoke of God as,

‘Music and Life, a Wheel that can neither be divided nor ended’

John of the Cross in 16th century Spain wrote,

‘My beloved is the mountains, The lonely wooded valleys,

Silent music, Sounding solitude,

The supper that refreshes, and nurtures love.’

St. Ignatius of Loyola perceived God as three musical keys:

‘Once, while praying, his understanding began to be raised up, in that he was seeing the Most Holy Trinity in the form of three musical keys (en figura de tres teclas), …. and he could not restrain his tears ….nor could he stop talking about the Most Holy Trinity…’

We know that Julie’s image of God was profoundly biblical and expressed as ‘Goodness’ in essence;

‘Ah, How good is the Good God!’

One of my own favourites is this excerpt from the American poet, Mary Oliver, written for her dear friend, but so applicable to our God. What is the greatest gift?

…‘something else entirely holds me in thrall:

That you have a life that I wonder about, more than I wonder about my own.

That you have a life – courteous, intelligent – that I wonder about more than I wonder about my own.

That you have a soul - your own, no one else's –

that I wonder about more than I wonder about my own. So that I find my soul clapping its hands for yours, more than my own. (Mary Oliver)

..and Guy Consolmagno, on the back page of The Tablet journal constantly draws me into the wonder of the Universe through his knowledge of astro-physics. (Look up, ‘astronomy picture of the day’ on Google) How will you use the celebration of this Trinity Sunday to find ways of moving deeper into the mystery of our God?

May you be blest in your journey of deeper discovery in the words of our Jewish ancestors in faith:

May God bless you and keep you: May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you: May our good God look upon you and give you peace.

Gospel Reflections

Early in the 15th century, the Russian Rublev wrote this icon of the Trinity for the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the monastic city, Sergei Posad, 50 miles from Moscow. It is almost 12 ft square.

The original now hangs in the Tretiakov Museum in Moscow. In creating this image Rublev threw open to all believers what we affirm in our Creed, that God is one with a distinctive relationship of persons, equal in being but distinct in relationship.

Finding language to express this can sometimes be better approached through images and poetry. So my reflection today is an offering of poems that help me to reflect on this profound mystery.

In the early 14th century Julian of Norwich, England, described God as ‘The Astonishing Familiarity of Home:'

The three properties of God are Life, Love and Light.In Life is the astonishing familiarity of Home.In Love is courtesy as befits relationships.

In the 12th century, Hidegard of Bingen, in the German Rhineland, spoke of God as,

‘Music and Life, a Wheel that can neither be divided nor ended’

John of the Cross in 16th century Spain wrote,

‘My beloved is the mountains, The lonely wooded valleys,

Silent music, Sounding solitude,

The supper that refreshes, and nurtures love.’

St. Ignatius of Loyola perceived God as three musical keys:

‘Once, while praying, his understanding began to be raised up, in that he was seeing the Most Holy Trinity in the form of three musical keys (en figura de tres teclas), …. and he could not restrain his tears ….nor could he stop talking about the Most Holy Trinity…’

We know that Julie’s image of God was profoundly biblical and expressed as ‘Goodness’ in essence;

‘Ah, How good is the Good God!’

One of my own favourites is this excerpt from the American poet, Mary Oliver, written for her dear friend, but so applicable to our God. What is the greatest gift?

…‘something else entirely holds me in thrall:

That you have a life that I wonder about, more than I wonder about my own.

That you have a life – courteous, intelligent – that I wonder about more than I wonder about my own.

That you have a soul - your own, no one else's –

that I wonder about more than I wonder about my own. So that I find my soul clapping its hands for yours, more than my own. (Mary Oliver)

..and Guy Consolmagno, on the back page of The Tablet journal constantly draws me into the wonder of the Universe through his knowledge of astro-physics. (Look up, ‘astronomy picture of the day’ on Google) How will you use the celebration of this Trinity Sunday to find ways of moving deeper into the mystery of our God?

May you be blest in your journey of deeper discovery in the words of our Jewish ancestors in faith:

May God bless you and keep you: May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you: May our good God look upon you and give you peace.